Expansion joint



July 20, 1948. w, KASTEN 2,445,580

EXPANSION-JOINT Filed May 15, 1946 Z 16 J5 15 I4 za 1? 23 17 J5 I4 15 INVENTOR.

' 12 14 If N WWW/v Patented July 20, 1948 EXPANSION JOINT Walter Kasten, Franklin, Mich., ,assignor to Renniks Company, Detroit,Mich., a copartnership Application May 15, 1946, Serial No. 669,965

The present invention pertains to certain valu-.

6 Claims. (01. 285-162) not necessarily limited to such specific utilization.

Among the several objects and purposes of this recent invention may be mentioned the provision of (a) an expansion-joint which avoids the commonplace loop in the, pipe thus supplying a structure occupying relatively small space, (b) one which consists of comparatively few parts, one which may be constructed at relatively small cost, (d) one which eifectively and efllciently performs its function of allowing expansion'and contraction of the conduit without leakage or breakage, (e) one which will have substantially no tendency to get out of order, and (f) one which will be without likelihood to become damaged or injured While performing its ordinarily satisfactory service.

To enable those acquainted with and skilled in this art to readily understand the structural improvements and functional advantagesincident to the new invention, a present preferred material embodiment of the same has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and to which referen ce should be had in connection with the following detailed descrip tion, like reference numerals having been employed to designate the same parts of the structure in the views of the drawing.

In this drawing:

- Figure 1 is an external view of the novel and improved pipe-joint; and

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section through the joint on line 2--2 of Figure 1 on a larger scale.

By reference to this drawing, it will be noted that each of the'two, companion, opposed pipesections l0 and II to be connected together by the novel expansion-and-contraction joint is supplied with'an apertured terminal flange I2, secured by bolts l3, l3 to the correspondinglyapertured end-flanges l4 and [5 of a pair of hollow, interfitted, cylindrical conduit-members l6 and H, a suitable flat pressure-sealing gasket l8 being employed between each pair of flanges I2 and i4 and, if desired in some cases, although it is not always required, a similar or comparable gasket may be used between the flanges l4 l5, although not so illustrated,

lt'should be observed that an appropriate, expansion-and-contraction space or gap 19 is provided between the adjacent ends of the reverse'lyarranged, companion elements ll, H.

pipe-section II) or H, is enlarged at its inner end, as shown at 2 I, to loosely accommodate a terminal portion of a tubular-element 22 having a medial, external, round flange 23. partially only as wide as, and occupying, the gap'l9 to allow play between the adjacent members of the joint, the passages through all five parts M, H, I6, l6 and 22 being in register and ordinarily, but not necessarily, approximately of the same caliber.

As is clearly -illustrated,.the inner end of each member I! has an internal, circular, terminal bead, flange or shoulder 24 with a round, inwardly-converging surface 25 merging into a larger-diameter face 26 at a right-angle to the axis of the joint. 7

Bearing and resting on and conforming to each of these combined surfaces or shoulders 25, 26 is a circular gasket 0r pressure-seal 21 composed preferably, but not necessarily exclusively, of a plurality of' interfitted or nested, thin, resilient or elastic, truncated-cone, sheet-metal reeds with their inner circular edges disposed inwardly beyond theinner-surface of the member 24, in pressure-sealing engagement with and completely surroundin the external, cylindrical surface of the intermediate tube 22, the two seals 21, 27 facing in opposite directions, that is, toward the fluid-pressures to which their opposite outer surfaces are subjected by reason of the tortuous spaces 2|,3I.

Stated somewhat otherwise, and as shown in the drawing, the outer surfaceof tube 22 is slightly less in diameter than the inner-diameter of the shoulders 24, 24 so that the inner marginal portions of'the reeds 21 project slightly beyond the former into engagement with the tube and, as mentioned, there is also an annular space 3| between each end portion of the tube 22 and the adjacent inner-surface of the corresponding member l6 so that the fluid-pressure in the joint is applied directly to both reed-seals tending to keep them tight and in proper functioning capacity. V As is fully depicted, the external-diameter of each hollow cylindrical member I6 is approxi mately the same as the internal-diameter of its complementary housing member IT in which it fits and the circular end of each member [6 is made thin'tobear only on the outer art of the and corresponding reed-seal 21 and to press the same firmly against and tightly on the companion surface 26 ofthe shoulder 24, the parts being maintained in such relation by the holding bolts l3.

Obviously, as the sections of pipes l0 and H and others joined thereto, but not illustrated, expand and contract under temperature changes, the novel joint illustrated and described readily compensates for such elongations and shortenl ings without pressure-leakage due to the fact that such length changes of theconduit as a whole cause the reed-seals .to rideback and forth on the tube'22 without pressure loss and the tube V itself is also capable of a moderate amount of It will be observed that the expansion-and-contraction referred to is permitted because of the gap l9 between the parts I1, I I and that the reed-' seals are able to maintain their pressure tight relations because their outer surfaces are always.

subjected to the fluid-pressures in the pipe-sec tions lflandll.

In addition to the novel structural ieatures already described, the adjacent ends of the two members H, I! are desirably provided externally with heat-dissipating flanges 32, 32 which, together with the neighboring or intervening heatdispersion flange 23 oi tube 22, adequatel protect the structure from heat damage.

Moreover; in order to prevent the structure from cocking or becoming distorted during move ment of the parts caused by the heating or cooling of the pipe, all of the nine flanges I2, M, I5, 32 and 23 are apertured in register at a plurality of points, three or more, each such longitudinal group housing a guide-rod 33 of substantially the same diameter with terminal enlarged limit-stops 34 and 3.5 spaced apart the proper amount to prevent disengagement of the reeds due to excessive extension of the pipe-ends, these rods also providing additional cooling surface and hence aiding in reducing the operating temperature of the metallic sealing-reeds,

Those skilled in and acquainted with this art will readily understand that the present inven: tion is not indispensably limited and confined to the precise and exact features of construction and mode of operation herein set forth and that reasonable modifications may be availed of with- 10 each housing-the corresponding end portion of out departure from the heart and essence of the invention and without the loss or sacrifice of any of its material benefits and advantages.

I claim: -1. In an adapted tobe secured between and toterminal flanges of spaced-apart ends of a pair of aligned pipe-sections, the novel combination of an inter-v mediate externally-cylindrical, tube, "a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart conduits each includ-.

ing an outer tubular-member and aconiplemen tary inner tubular-memberlengthwise slidingly accommodated in said outer tubular member, each said tubular memlqmerhaving an external terminalflange, means to adjust said-flanges longi- I,

tudinally relative to one another, 'each saidinner tubular member housing its corresponding end portion of said tube with a space between and around the two and with lengthwise play between the two, each said outer tubular member having an internal annular shoulder in register with the end of its corresponding inner tubular member and a thin, flexible, truncated-cone reed-gasket between each said shoulder and they end Qfi the expansion-and-contraction Joint corresponding inner tubular member bearing elastic read-type pressure-seals mounted on said.

conduits and bearing edgewise on theexternaF 4 surface of said tubular-member, and guide-rods with limit-stops occupying registered apertures hi l fa dflanges. 1

3. In an expansion and contraction joint adapted to be secured between and to the spacedapart ends of a pair of aligned pipe-sections, the novel improvement of an externally round tube, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart conduits adapted to be iastene'd to the ends of said pipesections and form extensions of the latter and saidtubeand a gasket inside each said conduit and surrounding its encased portion of the tube and in fluid-pressure sealing engagement with the c ui a d infi idr sur sealin slidin engagementwith'the exterior of its portion of the tube, each said conduit consisting of. an inner tubular member encased in a complementary outer tubular member, the gasket being maintainedfixedly in place between portions, of said complementary tubular members.

4. In an expansion and contraction Joint. adapted to be secured between and to the spacedapart ends of a pair of aligned pipe-sectiona'the novel improvement of an externally round tube, a pair of separate longitudinally spacedeapart externally flanged conduits adapted to be fastened by their flanges to thelends of said pipe-sections andeach conduit internally housing its corresponding end portion of said tube with lengthwise play therewith, anda gasket for each said conduit and surrounding its encased portion of said tube and influid-pressure sealing engagement with both said conduit and said tube and in sliding engagement with at least one of the two, said gasket (being i, of the thin, annula elastic, metal reed-type The novel improvement set forth inclaim 4, in which each, said gasket is fixed to its conduit and is inv sliding engagement with the exterior of the tube, I

, 6.; In an expansione and -.contraction joint adapted to be securedbetween and to thespacedapart ends of a pair of aligned pipe-sections, the. novel improvement of an externally round; tube, a pair of separate longitudinally spaced-apart externally flanged conduits adapted to be fastened by their flanges to the ends oi said pipe-sections and each conduit internally housing its corresponding end portion ofsaid tube with, lengthwise play therewith, and a gasketmo nted on; each said conduit and surrounding its encased portion of said tube and in fluid-pressure, sealing Rat-Enem es erran- The following references are'of recordin the file of this patent? H UNITE]? STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 147,498 Henderson Feb. 1'1, 18-74 1,318,525 Baldwin Oct. 14, 1919 2,324,688 Finlayson July 20, 1943' I FoRnIo-N PATENTS N umber I Country I 7 Date j 392,287 .1 Great Britain .Y May is, 1932 

